Hannu Jukola News

Finnish collaborators have unveiled a new propulsion unit. Azimuth propulsion specialist Steerprop has rolled out its new CRP ECO LM propulsor featuring permanent magnet (PM) technology from The Switch. Steerprop has been developing propulsion units since 2001, while The Switch, a developer of advanced drive train solutions, has been using its technology to enhance performance in marine applications. The PM machine, currently in serial production, has a track record in the world’s largest wind turbines in rough offshore conditions.

Oil and gas—and also mining—are the drivers today propelling Arctic maritime operations and the construction of new vessels able to operate in extreme latitudes. While the gas and oil resources can be recovered in the Arctic or far north and shipped to markets by sea or pipeline, the cost of doing must be balanced upon the global market price for those commodities. Ships and marine structures able to operate in the harsh conditions of the extreme latitudes require special designs and construction techniques.

Steerprop is now taking one step further, improving the efficiency still by introducing the dual-end CRP propulsor. As a part of the ongoing research and development process of the Steerprop propulsor technology, Steerprop Ltd. recently conducted a series of model tests at Krylov Shipbuilding Research Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Steerprop dual-end contra-rotating propulsor configuration was tested in both the towing tank (open water tests) and in the cavitation tank. "The test series clearly showed the benefits of the dual-ended configuration and thus also proved the claims for high efficiency of Steerprop CRP. The efficiency of the forward propeller was measured to be close to 0.9!" said Hannu Jukola, hydrodynamist at Steerprop Ltd.